Chef Aaron McCargo Jr. and Fresenius Medical Care Share Kidney

Summer is here again, and for millions of Americansthat means it's time for picnics, potluck dinners and cooking outside on the grill.

Yet many traditional barbecue dishes are off limits for the more than 450,000 Americans with kidney failure who depend on dialysis - a life-sustaining process that cleans waste products from the blood and removes extra fluids. Because the dialysis diet has strict limitations on salt, potassium and phosphorus, patients are advised to avoid processed sausages, baked beans, potato salad, ice cream, watermelon, many sodas, flavored drinks and other summer favorites.

To help dialysis patients enjoy the season while staying within their dietary guidelines, Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation's leading network of dialysis facilities, has teamed up with celebrity Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr., star of Food Network's 'Big Daddy's House,' to create several new kidney-friendly recipes that are perfect for summertime cookout appetizers or side-dishes. Developed in collaboration with FMCNA dietitians, these three new dishes not only taste great, they are also great sources of protein and vegetables that can round out a meal with fresh lean meats.

Chef McCargo's first new recipe, ' Chilled Veggie and Shrimp Noodle Salad,' is a delicious Asian-inspired combination of shrimp, scallions, broccoli, carrots and shitake mushrooms served cold over chilled linguini noodles. Next is ' Adobo Marinated Tilapia Tapas,' which combines pieces of baked tilapia fillet marinated in tangy Spanish adobo sauce and fresh cabbage slaw served in bite-size crispy wonton cups. 'They're an explosion of flavor in your mouth,' says McCargo, 'and the great thing is, you can serve them cold or hot.'

A third new recipe, ' Smoky Salmon Dip,' is a flavor-packed crowd pleaser that can also be served on a bed of salad greens.

'These new dishes are ideal for get-togethers,' says Robin Russell, lead dietitian for FMCNA's North Texas region, who often collaborates on recipes with Chef McCargo. 'Getting out and about and being social is important for dialysis patients' quality of life, and Chef McCargo's recipes are fun, full of flavor, and people just don't expect that with such a restricted diet.'

Entities 0 Name: McCargo Count: 3 1 Name: FMCNA Count: 2 2 Name: Chef McCargo Count: 1 3 Name: Jr. Count: 1 4 Name: Fresenius Medical Care North America Count: 1 5 Name: House Count: 1 6 Name: Aaron McCargo Count: 1 7 Name: Robin Russell Count: 1 8 Name: North Texas Count: 1 9 Name: Food Network Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1r6iXA7 Title: Roast Sweet Potato With Tomato and Cheese Description: Roast Sweet Potato with Tomato and Cheese